Traffic regulating system



Dec. 27, 1938- B. ARKELL ET AL 2,142,040

TRAFFIC REGULATING SYSTEM Filed Nov. 20, 1936v x INVENTORS BARTLETTARKELL DOUGEAS: M. McBEAN Patented Dec. 27, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE 2,142,040 TRAFFIC REGULATING SYSTEM Bartlett Arkell and DouglasM. McBean, Canajoharie, N. Y.; said McBean assignor to said Arkell Thepresent invention relates to traflic regulating systems and has for itsobject to provide a system having novel and improved means, operating intimed relation to vehicle trafiic signals, 5 for regulating the crossingof streets by pedestrians.

The preferred form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatical view of the system;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modification; and Fig. 3 is a detailsectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

The system is illustrated in the drawing as used 15 on the corners ofintersecting streets 2 and 4 having sidewalks 5. The system is providedwith vehicle traiiic regulating signals which may con-' sist of theusual red and green lights 6 for regulating the vehicle trafiic on thestreet 2, and red 20 and green lights 8 for regulating the traflic onthe street 4. These lights may be operated in any well known manner asfor example by means of a rotary switch I0 for controlling the lightcircuit.

In accordance with the present invention signals I2 and I4 are arrangedat each corner. These signals may consist of lights set into thesidewalks with the lens I6 of each light flush with the sidewalk. Asshown, each lens is formed to diffuse the light away from the street soas to 30 cause the lights at each corner to be visible to pedestriansstanding at the corner but obstructed from the view of the drivers ofthe vehicles. The

circuit for the lights I2 and I4 may be controlled by the switch II] insuch a manner that at a pre- 35 determined interval of time before thevehicle signals are operated to direct the traffic on the street 2 toproceed, the lights I2 are turned on and stay on until the vehiclesignals direct the thus moving traffic to stop, whereupon said lights 40I2 are turned off. In the same manner, at a predetermined interval oftime before the vehicle signals are operated to direct the traffic onstreet 4 to move, the lights I4 are turned on and stay on until thevehicle signals direct the thus moving 45 traffic to stop, whereuponsaid lights I 4 are turned off.

As shown the lights I2 and I4 are respectively arranged near the curbsof the streets 2 and 4. The lights I2 when turned on serve to warn the50 pedestrians not to cross the street 2, and the lights I4 when turnedon serve to warn the pedestrians not to cross the street I4.

The time interval above described between the turning on of thepedestrian lights I2 and I4 and 55 the changing of the traflic lights tosignal the traflic to proceed on the respective streets is of suchlength as to warn the pedestrians they have not sufficient time to crossbefore the traffic changes. For example, if twenty seconds would berequired by the ordinary person to walk across the wider street 2, thelights I2 are turned on twenty seconds or slightly more than twentyseconds before the traflic moves on said street. If ten seconds arerequired to walk across the narrower street 4, the lights are turned onten sec- 10 onds or slightly more than ten seconds before the traificmoves on that street. The lights I2 and I4 preferably remain on untilthe traffio on the respective streets stop.

By the operation of the lights I2 and I4 as described, a pedestrian isable to tell whether it is safe or unsafe for him to cross, and there isno danger of his being caught by a change of vehicle traffic when he isonly part way across the street.

With the use of the improved system it is unnecessary for the pedestrianto watch the vehicle traflic lights which is difficult in the case ofpersons who are nearsighted or color blind, espe-' cially where thetraflic lights are several blocks apart.

As the pedestrian lights are obstructed from the view of the drivers ofthe vehicles, the drivers will not try to beat the lights, or to use thepedestrian lights as starting signals, which would be the tendency ifthey were visible to the drivers.

In some instances to save expense a single pedestrian light I2 may beused at each corner. In such cases the lights may be connected in seriesas illustrated in Fig. 3, so as to be turned on and off simultaneouslyby the circuit switch Ill. These lights I 2 are turned on apredetermined interval of time before the vehicle trafiic lights 6' and8 direct the traffic to proceed on either street, and are turned offwhen the traffic stops on the other street. This arrangement alsoinsures against change of traflic while the pedestrian is only part wayacross the street.

As will be evident to those skilled in the art, our invention permitsvarious modifications without departing from the spirit thereof or thescope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. In a traffic regulating system comprising ve hicle traffic signalsand pedestrian traflic signals for a street having sidewalks, and meansfor operating the two sets of signals in timed relation, the improvementwhich consists in said pedestrian signals comprising lights mounted inrecesses in the sidewalks and provided with illuminated tread surfacesarranged substantially flush with the surfaces of the walks and inproximity to the outer edges of the walks.

2. In a traffic regulating system comprising vehicle trafilc signals andpedestrian traflic signals for a street having sidewalks, and means foroperating the two sets of signals in timed relation, the improvementwhich consists in said pedestrian signals comprising lights mounted inthe side walks in proximity to the outer edges of the walks andsubstantially flush with the surfaces of the walks, and provided withmeans for directing the light rays away from the street.

BARTLETT ARKELL. DOUGLAS M. MCBEAN.

